Artists and Cultural and Creative Professionals at the Heart of Cultural Policy: What Is Europe Debating Right Now?

The ENCATC Congress on cultural management and cultural policy, held in Nice in September 2026, brought to the forefront a question that concerns the entire cultural sector: under what conditions do artists and other cultural and creative professionals work today, and how can their position be strengthened in the future?

The congress theme, Artists and Cultural & Creative Professionals at the Centre: Rethinking Work, Policy, and Cultural Ecosystems, reflects a broader European debate on the conditions of creative work, the objectives of cultural policy, and the future of the cultural sector.

Today, the importance of culture for the economy, society, and democracy is more widely recognised than ever before. At the same time, it has become increasingly apparent that the labour market position of cultural professionals differs significantly from that of many other sectors. Although the cultural sector generates considerable value for society, many of its workers continue to face fragmented and precarious working conditions.

The Changing Nature of Creative Work

The labour market for artists has been the subject of extensive research for decades. Studies consistently show that artistic careers are often built around short-term projects, multiple income streams, and self-employment. While many cultural professionals are highly educated, their livelihoods are generally more uncertain than those of workers in many other fields.

In recent years, growing attention has been paid to the increasing precarity of creative careers. Artistic work is often associated with a strong sense of autonomy, offering opportunities for self-expression and the freedom to shape one’s own professional path. Yet responsibility for economic security, social protection, and well-being frequently rests with the individual. This tension has been described as the “autonomy paradox”: freedom and insecurity often go hand in hand.

Entrepreneurship has long been promoted as a solution to the challenges facing the cultural sector. However, participants at the congress emphasised that entrepreneurial approaches alone cannot solve its structural problems. While they may create new opportunities and increase flexibility, they can also transfer even greater economic risks onto individual artists and creative professionals.

Technological development is another major force reshaping the world of work. Digitalisation and artificial intelligence are transforming both artistic practice and the operations of cultural organisations. New tools can streamline creative processes and open up novel forms of expression, but they also raise important questions about copyright, skills development, and the future value of creative labour. At the congress, AI was viewed primarily as a phenomenon that requires both new competencies and critical reflection on the future of the cultural sector.

Cultural Policy in Search of New Solutions

In recent years, the social and professional status of artists has moved increasingly high on the European cultural policy agenda. The cultural and creative sectors employ millions of Europeans, yet they continue to face persistent structural challenges, including insecure employment, uneven access to social protection, and unstable incomes.

As a result, policymakers across Europe have begun to place greater emphasis on strengthening artists’ rights and improving the working conditions of cultural and creative professionals in a more systematic way. Central to these discussions is the proposed European Artist Charter, expected in 2027, which aims to promote fair working conditions, stronger social protection, well-being at work, and opportunities for collective bargaining. At the same time, debates continue on how digitalisation and artificial intelligence can be developed in a human-centred way that supports rather than undermines creative work.

The congress also highlighted concerns about the place of culture within future European funding and development programmes. Cultural actors are seeking to ensure that culture does not become overshadowed by other political priorities. Increasingly, culture is understood not only as a source of identity and well-being but also as a driver of social sustainability, democratic resilience, and innovation.

The Growing Importance of Education

One of the strongest messages emerging from the congress concerned education. The challenges facing the cultural sector cannot be addressed through research and policy measures alone. They also require education and training that prepare people to work in a rapidly changing environment.
Digitalisation, artificial intelligence, the green transition, and internationalisation are continuously reshaping skill requirements. Consequently, education must provide more than professional expertise. It should also foster lifelong learning, critical thinking, adaptability, and the capacity to navigate uncertainty. Future cultural professionals will increasingly need the ability to move between different forms of employment, build international networks, and make effective use of emerging technologies.

This issue is particularly significant for younger generations. Students graduating into the cultural sector today are entering a working life that looks very different from that of a few decades ago. Educational programmes must therefore remain closely connected to current research and developments in professional practice. At the same time, they should equip learners not only to adapt to change but also to shape it.

Community, Collaboration, and Cultural Ecosystems

Another key theme of the congress was the recognition that cultural work does not take place in isolation. Artists and creative professionals operate within networks, communities, collectives, and locally embedded collaborative structures. Increasingly, creative work is developed through shared workspaces, community organisations, cooperatives, and informal professional networks.

These developments challenge the traditional image of the solitary creative entrepreneur. The congress explored alternative organisational models centred on mutual support, resource sharing, peer learning, and collaboration. Such approaches were seen as offering promising pathways towards more sustainable careers and greater resilience across the cultural sector.

The discussions also underlined the importance of research in cultural policy development. Robust evidence can help identify emerging trends, assess the impact of policy interventions, and support the design of more effective solutions. However, research only achieves its full value when its findings are translated into education, policymaking, and practical action.

Towards a More Sustainable Future

The growing attention to the status of artists and creative professionals reflects a broader shift in the way culture is understood within society. Culture is no longer viewed solely as a contributor to well-being or social vitality. It is increasingly recognised as a field of work, expertise, and economic activity whose structures and conditions warrant critical examination.

Ultimately, the issue extends beyond individual artists. It concerns the sustainability of the entire cultural ecosystem. If creative professionals are unable to build stable and viable careers, the consequences will be felt not only by cultural organisations but also by audiences and society. Conversely, investments in education, research, international cooperation, and fair working conditions can strengthen the vitality and resilience of the cultural sector.

The central message of the ENCATC Congress in Nice was clear: improving the position of artists and creative professionals requires close collaboration between research, education, cultural policy, and practitioners. Europe is entering a phase in which the working conditions of artists and creative professionals are no longer treated as a marginal concern but as a fundamental issue for the future of culture itself. The same questions are highly relevant in Finland. The key challenge is how we can develop solutions together that ensure creative work remains not only meaningful but also sustainable in the years to come.